Chapter 12: Okay I Pull Up

DEMING WOODS, WA – BORDER OF BLOODCLAW

RAY’S POV

“Alpha, over here. You’re going to want to see this.”

The telepathic call from Isaiah, one of the three Gammas, rings through my head, and a group of us track over to his location. The smell of blood and death becomes stronger. I snarl in anger.

“Keep your cool, Ray.”

My father’s voice reaches me and I turn to see his wolf beside me. Canter’s coat is a glimmering coal, one that exudes a shine of superiority. Just catching a glimpse of him alerts any wolf that he’s not one to be trifled with.

“As the upcoming Alpha, you mustn't let your emotions get the better of you. Be stoic.”

Taking in a breath, I steel my nerves.

Upon arrival, we reach the border of our turf, right beside the riverbank. There, the waters are stained with blood from eight wolves. They all lay still in the stream, lifeless.

Observing the area, there are signs of a long, drawn out battle. Multiple paw prints and skids in the mud, scratched stones, and the marks along their corpses. They truly fought to the bitter end.

We stand in silence, looking for any fallen comrades. Most of them appear to be rogues from the Vagabonds, but a few furs look recognizable.

“Victor…” I hear Isaiah murmur. Looking over in his direction, I spot the familiar patch of sun-brown fur soaked in a mixture of water and blood.

A sense of dread washes over me. I remember him. He used to look out for me and Nathan back when we were kids.

“There had to have been at least nine assailants.” Everett, one of my father’s men, sniffs one of the prints near the water.

“So, another group ambush? Last time it was five…their numbers are getting bigger.” Before father’s Beta, Conrad, could inspect the bodies, our new delta, Felix, rushes to one in particular, whimpering frantically.

“Felix! Don’t take charge unless ordered to…!” However, Conrad’s words die off watching the delta cower over the gray body in sorrow.

He nudges the corpse, attempting to somehow stir the wolf awake.

“Father…? Father, please, get up!”

My heart shrivels at the sight. A few of the other wolves lower their heads in condolence as Felix weeps broken howls, mourning over his father’s death.

“Both Victor and Troy lost their lives protecting our territory. Let us take a moment to honor them.”

My father’s voice cuts through Felix’s cries, and we all close our eyes, blessing them safe travels as they reunite with Selene once more.

“Isaiah and Derek, help Felix move Troy to our burial ground. Everett and Ben, do the same for Victor. Conrad, Ray and I will further inspect the rogues here. We’ll reconvene at the checkpoint and decide how to address their families from there. Understood?”

“Yes, Alpha.” We all say in unison and get right into our tasks.

I glance at Felix’s broken state once more before turning back to the corpses. Although my senses have grown used to the rotting smell, the sight of it is still hard to stomach.

Most of the rogues have specific scars that identify them as part of the Vagabonds. A mark of a fang dragged below their ear is a sign of their allegiance and that they no longer follow under Selene, but create their own way of living.

Throwing their hopes and dreams into reckless abandon, looking for something amongst the chaos is a dangerous way to live. Why are they so adamant about disturbing the peace that they’d even take the life of their own kind?

“Unbelievable…” Conrad breathes, catching my father’s and my attention.

“What is it, Conrad?” The Alpha steps up to the body his right aid inspected.

“Victor and Troy were the only ones in this fight from our pack,” he states. “Out of the bodies left behind, five of them are confirmed rogues from the Vagabonds with their scars. Whereas this one,” He nudges the wolf’s body to the other side. They display no marks on either side of their profile. “Is neither a rogue or a member of ours. Its scent faintly smells like that of the Lunar Howls.”

“What were they doing at our borders? We should’ve received word if they had arrived.” I say, looking over the corpse. “Did they happen to stumble upon the fight and attempt to help Troy and Victor?”

“No…” My father sighs. That stuns me.

“Then what were they-”

“They attacked our men along with the Vagabonds.” Conrad states bitterly.

A Lunar Howl, helping the Vagabonds? That sentence doesn’t even make sense. It shouldn’t make sense.

“How do you know that?” I glare at him. “We weren’t here during the attack. You can’t possibly assume that that’s what happened-”

“Ray.” My father silences me. “This only tells me you did not properly inspect the bodies when we arrived. That is a shame.”

Even now, he chooses to criticize and belittle me.

“Look at this wolf’s injuries.” He demands.

I inspect it thoroughly. It appears they’ve only been inflicted in the jugular; a clean, deep claw into their vein. A practiced technique of the Bloodclaw that was executed flawlessly.

Wait.

“Now you noticed.” The Alpha huffs. “Troy or Victor killed them, most likely in defense. And the fact that they were hardly injured anywhere else means that the Vagabonds did not see them as a target. Thus, they were working together.”

With a deep sigh, father steps out of the waters, looking out into the woods. “Our men had more severe injuries. Bites, claw marks, torn flesh. It was a brutal death. We do not teach those ways of killing, Ray.” He looks back at me, golden eyes filled with a sense of sorrow. “Even in their final moments and lives on the line, they chose to rid their enemies in the swiftest, and painless way possible. They have done well.”

Conrad steps up beside me. “Indeed, Alpha. They were trained by you, of course they represented well, even in death.” Looking over the bodies one more time, his face changes into one of irritation. “What are we to do with this newfound information? Alert the council?”

I go rigid at that. If we inform the council, which includes the Alpha of the Lunar Howls, then that would mean initiating a war against them. This is treason in the highest form, attacking another member of a pack on their own turf. With the rogues no less. It can’t be swept under the rug, but there will be many consequences in outing them now. Especially with the Holy Moon Tournament approaching so soon.

I feel my father’s eyes staring at me and look up. There’s an unknown glimmer in them; one that I can’t quite understand. Why is he looking at me like that?

“We’ll hold off on voicing this matter publicly, but they will be on our radar. We’ll have to look into this privately, since we don’t know if it was a lone member acting on their own accord or if it was planned. If the latter, we need to proceed cautiously. Any misstep could lead to more lives being lost. Isn’t that right, Ray?”

I perk up at my name and nod. “Yes, Alpha.”

Did he realize that I was in the same track of mind as him?

“Then we will hold off,” Conrad says walking out of the waters. Following him, we all head to the checkpoint to reunite with others.

I could sense he didn’t like the idea of keeping this a secret, especially since the people that died were fellow comrades. It’s a hard pill to swallow for sure. But, like my father said, this needs to be done in a way that can avoid as much bloodshed as possible.

***

What I would kill for a nap right now. Flopping onto my bed, I feel both physically and mentallhy exhausted after all that transpired during patrols. Giving the bad news to Troy and Victor’s families was probably the hardest part of it all. To see their mates’ faces in pure anguish and heartache was unbearable. But I had to endure it. I couldn’t show any hint of guilt or sadness or else they couldn’t rely on me to ensure their safety.

However, a part of me wonders if that’s always the best thing to do for someone in mourning. Couldn’t we grant them some sort of comfort or share in their pain to let them know they’re not alone in feeling that way?

I twist my body to the other side, conflicted with all these rampant emotions. I lost a mentor today, and it still hasn’t officially settled in that I won’t be seeing him again. Victor…

“Bzz!”

Groaning, I glare at my phone on the nightstand. I shut my eyes, turning away from it.

“Bzz!”

“Ugh, what is it?” I look to see it’s Nathan asking to hang out. Rolling my eyes, I decline. There’s no way I’m in the mood for that. However, I notice a notification on Sam’s contact. It was sent half an hour ago.

That’s right, I asked her to take Anna to the bookstore today for me. Did she need something from me?

However, once my eyes read over the text, my muscles tense.

‘Hey, when you’re done with patrols, come to this location ASAP. Anna’s in trouble.’

Right below it is an address to a café spot near campus.

Why the hell would she be in danger at a café? It’s right near campus, too.

Wait a minute.

The sudden image of those prissy girls and that as*shole comes to mind.

“F*ck.” I immediately put on my shoes and prop open the window wide enough for me to jump through.

Why does she keep getting involved with them? When will she learn that they’ve never meant well? She’s too kind for her own good. Even after I put her through all my own crazy sh*t and sarcasm, she’s never focused on the bad sides of me. She’s too naive to the point it drives me mad. She just accepts getting hurt because she thinks she deserves it, but of course she doesn’t.

Various thoughts flood through my mind; a picture of her crying and dejected ignites something primal in me. I think back to those women who we had to break the news to, distraught with no one to console them.

Rage flares through my entire being. What normally is painful to endure with Zeus’ thrashing anger is now giving me newfound adrenaline as I race to my car.

Revving the engine, I whip out of the grass lot and make my way out of the community in record speed. A call suddenly rings through my car. It’s Sam.

“Ray, did you get my text? Anna is-”

“I’ll be there in five.”

Hanging up, my eyes focus back on the road.

If these as*sholes harmed Anna in any way they’ll have hell to pay.